MP

Bruce Flegg (LNP) since 2004.

Profile

Leafy and semi-rural areas in Brisbane's western suburbs along the northern banks of the Brisbane River west of the Centenary Highway. It includes the suburbs of Kenmore, Chapel Hill, Brookfield, Pullenvale, Bellbowrie, Karana Downs and Mount Crosby.

Background

Moggill was the new name adopted for Mt Coot-tha at the 1986 election and has always been held by the Liberal Party, normally being the safest Liberal seat in Brisbane. Indeed, from 2001 to 2005, it was the only Liberal seat in Brisbane. The seat's first MP was Bill Lickiss, who represented Mount Coot-tha 1963-86 before switching to Moggill at its first contest in 1986. He retired at the 1989 election to be succeeded by Dr David Watson 1989-2004, current MP Dr Bruce Flegg taking over in 2004. Flegg is a Doctor of Medicine, while Watson possesses a PhD in Accounting and also had a brief career as Federal MP for Forde 1984-87. Both Watson and Flegg led the Liberal Party to defeat at elections, Watson in 2001 and Flegg in 2006. Watson memorably emerged into the tally room after the 2001 defeat and spoke of how enjoyable the campaign had been, prompting National Leader Rob Borbidge who spoke after him to wonder aloud if Watson had been part of a different election campaign.

Schoermer has lived in the electorate for more than half of his life and has undertaken study at the University of Queensland in Information Technology, Modern History and Political Science. He has recently moved to St Lucia to be closer to work and the University. Schoermer works as Web Developer and Designer and states he is also active in the Brisbane Tech scene.

Aged 58, Flegg was a doctor and company director before his election to Parliament at the 2004 election. He had two previous attempts at public office, contesting the Federal seats of Petrie in 1990 and Dickson in 1993. Flegg describes himself as a pioneer of multi disciplinary medical centres in Queensland as his career shifted from hands-on medicine to medical business. The before he entered Parliament Flegg completed a post graduate diploma in Financial Markets, winning the Queensland Investment Corporation prize for industrial equity analysis. Elected Deputy Liberal Leader on entering parliament, Flegg also served as opposition spokesman on health. Flegg was elected Liberal Leader in a surprise party coup on 7 August 2006 and thrown straight into an election campaign as Peter Beattie called a snap poll. Flegg's struggle in his new role as Liberal leader was seen as one of the reasons the Coalition lost the 2006 election, Flegg caught without an answer on whether he or Lawrence Springborg would be Premier if the Liberals won more seats than the Nationals. Flegg was subsequently challenged for the Liberal Leadership by MP Tim Nicholls, but the numbers were tied 4-all, Nicholls unable to win a spill motion but Flegg unable to demonstrate majority support in the party room. After several weeks of stalemate, Flegg resigned in favour of compromise candidate Mark McArdle. On the formation of the LNP Flegg was left off the opposition frontbench, but he has returned to the frontline since 2009 and is currently Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Shadow Minsiter for Education.